Pride in Reo Māori was evident from the students on stage in the Tārērē Kōrero Māori ā te au 'Api'i Tuarua ō te Kūki 'Airani (Reo Māori Schools Speech Competition) which was held over two nights at the National Auditorium Domes earlier this week.

The 32 students exuded confidence, speaking smoothly and effectively in Reo Māori at the Ministry of Education’s schools Māori speech competition held on Monday and Tuesday nights.

Each Year Level had different themes to focus their speeches on.

“Te tieni'anga tā te maki kōviti i rave ki te Ora'anga Tangata – The changes Covid inflicted on our people” was the theme for the Year 11 students.

Year 11 winner Tuema Areai from Tereora College says he felt “happy” to have won the event.

“I wasn’t nervous, I just focused on my speech and I wanted people to know the message I was delivering and I hope they were listening,” shares Areai.

The Year 12 participants focused on “Te au tieni'anga o ta tatou peu Māori – The changes in our Māori Customs”, speaking passionately about the danger of losing Māori traditions.

Anadoria Tereapii from Mangaia School was brilliant on stage speaking confidently in the Mangaian dialect. Tereapii spoke of the changes in the protocols of special events and walked away with first placing for Year 12.

'Āpi’i Mangaia Year 10 student Sirrahmina Ngai. MELINA ETCHES/23040526

“I feel good and grateful, in my few last practices I was nervous and I didn’t know if I could win, I’m happy,” says Tereapii.

Only three students entered the Year 13’s category which had the theme “Te au manu o toku Matakeinanga – The birds of my tribe/Island”, and all three presented their speeches articulately.

Aaron Marc Punua from the island of Atiu/Enuamanu took home the trophy (first prize) in the Year 13 division having expressed his admiration and respect for the “kopeka” or the Atiu swiftlet which is a species of bird endemic to Atiu.

Minister Rose Toki-Brown (front left) and Minister of Education Vaine “Mac” Mokoroa (far right) were both proud of the Tārērē Kōrero Māori speeches from the students. MELINA ETCHES/23040508

“I feel amazing and it feels good ending my Level 3 with this award,” said Punua after the prizegiving awards on Tuesday night.

The Year 9 and Year 10 students competed in the Tārērē Kōrero Māori on Monday night.

The judges for both evenings were Piritau Nga, Justina Nicholas and Makitua Boaza.

Ngavaevae Papatua was the emcee on the evening which was attended by Minister of Education Vaine “Mac” Mokoroa, Minister Rose Toki-Brown, Secretary of Education Danielle Cochrane, sponsors and teachers from the Pa Enua.

Results

The Year 11 participants: 'Āpi'i Titikaveka - Hanamarie Henry, 'Āpi'i  'Enuāmanu - Marie Mingi (2^nd), 'Āpi'i  Mangaia - Aaron Harry, 'Āpi'i Tereora - Tuema Areai (1^st), 'Āpi'i Ara'ura - Travel Ngatamariki, 'Āpi'i  Mauke - Ngatama Tuakanangaro (Mauke), 'Āpi'i  Nukutere - Jacelene Pukerua.

Year 12 participants: 'Āpi'i 'Enuāmani - Teryna Paratainga (3^rd), 'Āpi'i Tereora - Teii Ngametua (2^nd), 'Āpi'i Mangaia - Anadoria Tereapii (1st), 'Āpi'i Ara'ura - Esther David.

Year 13 participants: 'Āpi'i Mangaia - Christian Tereora (2^nd), 'Āpi'i Tereora - Marenga Tua (3^rd), 'Āpi'i 'Enuāmanu - Aaron Marc Punua (1^st).

Āpi'i Tereora College Year 11 student Tuema Areai’s winning speech

Karakerake, karakerake

Tukua mai te taura

Te taura viriviri, te varavara

Kakea te rangi tuamano…

Manotini tei takoto i te ara tiroa

E tamariki te mea akaroa ka vaio

E patu paepae te mea akaroa ka vaio

Kia akarongoia te rongo o te maki koviti kare au roa au i manako ana e, ka riro teia taae i te taui i te oraanga tangata i roto i toku Kuki Airani.

Kare roa au i manako ana e ka riro teia maki i te taui i te peu tei matauia e toku iti tangata i te rave.

Kare roa au i manako ana e ka mavete aia i toku tikaanga teretere ki roto i toku ipukarea.

Kare roa au i manako ana e ka kiriti ke aia i toku tikaanga i te akamori i toku Atua i te rangi tinitini.

Kare roa i manako ana e ka topiri aia i toku kena ipukarea no tetai tuatau roa.

Kare roa au i manako ana e ka rauka iaia i te akamuteki i tangi o te apinga akaoro ki runga i toku mataara.

Kare roa au i manako ana e ka rauka iaia i te tapu iaku auraka au kia  aere ki te apii.

Eaa roa toou tere ki toku ipukarea. Noea mai toou tikaanga kia tomo mai koe ki toku patu paepae tapu?

Te karanga nei te Tapura maata – Te au tienianga ta te maki koviti i rave.

Tārērē Kōrero Māori ā te au 'Api'i Tuarua ō te Kūki 'Airani Year 9 students. MELINA ETCHES/23040412

 Noo marie mai kia akiaki atu au i te au mea tei tupu ki toku iti tangata, e ta ratou i rave, e te korona ta te Mana Katoatoa i akakorona ia tatou i teia ra.

Kia Orana tatou e te iti tangata Kuki Airani. Ko au teia te Parai Minita o te Kuki Airani ko Mark Brown. Teia to tatou tuatua akakite no teia ra, kua raveia te uipaanga a te au minita, te mema paramani e pera te Marae ora e kua akanooia teia au takainga i raro nei.

Akamata i teia ra, ka inangaroia tatou katoatoa kia aao i te paruru vaa i te au ngai katoatoa ta taau ka aere. Auraka e mou rima. Aura te takave. Auraka e ongi i toou taeake. Ka tarevareva ua tatou i teia nei.

Ko teia tetai tuatua e akarongo putuputuia ana i te tuatau i kakoia ai to tatou ipukarea e teia tumu rangi kerekere.

E tai aku tienianga ka akamou au i taku korero ki runga koia oki ko te peu aravei taeake e te veevee aroa i tetai uatu te ka akaruke i te ipukarea.

I mua ake ka tae mai te maki koviti, ko te araveianga e te veevee taeake, manuiri e te kopu tangata tetai akonoanga tei matauia e toku iti tangata i te rave.

Kia Orana koe e Tu, peea koe i teia popongi? Pakakina te ongi e te mou rima me kare kua takave aroa i te akaari i to tatou tu Kuki Airani.

Aue te akaroa ia koe e taku tamaiti. Aere ra kia manuia toou tere. Kua mou, kua takave e kua aue kapipiti i te akakite i to tatou tu inangaro i tetai e tetai.

Kia takai mai ra a koviti ki to tatou oneone. Kua tamou aia i te arai vaa kia kore e rauka ia tatou i te ongi i to tatou au taeake. Kua tapeka aia i te tapeka auri kia kore tatou e mou rima akaou ki to tatou au kopu tangata. Kua tuku aia I te patu arai ki rotopu ia tatou kia kore tatou e takave akaou ia tatou rai.

Viravira tikai taau i rave ki toku iti tangata. Tomo poiri ua mai ki roto i toku ngutuare tupuna e kua akariro ei ngutuare noo tinamou noou. Te akama iaau.

Te Atua tapu nui i te rangi tinitini

vatavata mai o pukai taringa

iripapa, iripapa.

Ko Iehova toku akapuanga e te maroiroi, tauturu vaitata kia rokoia e te tumatetenga.

Kare ra  tika i te Atua o te rangi. Kua kiriti ke aia i te arai tei riro i te vevete i te pirianga ta te Atua i akarangatira ia tatou e iti tangata Kuki Airani. Kua tatara aia i te tapeka tei tapoki i ta tatou peu akaaraveianga. E kua tipu ke aia i te kakau puroku te oronga mai i te mataku e te taitaia maata ki roto i toku iti tangata.

I teia ra te akameitaki nei au i te Atua, no te au mea umere tana i rave. Tana tiakianga, tana paruruanga, tana aratakianga e tona aroa tumatatini ia tatou. Ki te Kavamani o teia ra, kua riro taau i rave ei akairo no te ipukarea irinaki ki roto i ta te Atua akatereanga. Kua rangatira koe e kua rangatira te ipukarea i teia ra.

Ki te Marae Ora, kare aku ario e te auro e oronga atu na kotou ko te aroa ra o te teitei. Meitaki ngao no taau akaatingaanga maata ki toou ipukarea e tona iti tangata. Ki toku iti tangata, kua rangatira tatou i teia ra, no te mea e iti tangata irinaki Atua tatou e ko taku pure kia vai ua rai teia tu no tatou e rau e rau e rau te tuatau.

Te Atua te aroa, Tangi ke kua matau ua oki tatou,